I dont think there is a brotherhood of lever buffs anywhere like there is here.
Ive been reading this site for a while and have been looking at buying a commercial lever machine for a cafe.
Im wondering if there are any thoughts by you where you can give me the positives and the negatives in doing so.
Im mostly interested in temperature stability, clarity and technique.

CK.

Hi CK,
I think it goes without saying that you'll need a commercial machine. Residential machines have a problem with overheating when used for several shots in a row. Also, you'll want your machine to be connected to a water line and drain.
I have two commercial machines, a two-group Futurmat Palanca and a single-group Conti Prestina. Prior to using these machines I've owned a La Pavoni, La Riviera, and an Elektra lever. Each of the residential machines could make outstanding coffee, but each required a lot of practice to do this and none could make great espresso consistently, at least I never could!
By constrast, the commercial machines are much more forgiving. Pulling great shots with them seems to be something I could do in my sleep. In a cafe situation where employee training, turnover, etc. are major concerns I really don't think a commercial lever would be any harder to operate then a good pump machine. I've only used these in my home. however, so maybe some other members can give you a better perspective.
As for clarity, comparing these lever machines to pumps ( I've had several including one two-group commercial machine), and I think the levers are definitely superior. Temperature stability may be an area where pump machines are better. I don't know. I do think a commercial lever is designed to pull shots all day so I doubt if it's an issue.
Hope this helps!

Bill, thank you for that.
Ive had a heap of experience in commercial environments using commercial machines from CMA, Faema, Rancilio, Cimbali.
this time i thought id try something different.
I think the romance of the retro workable art that is a lever machine was too hard to walk away from this time.

But i have had no real experience using them.. so im a bit worried about a few things including repeatability.

Thanks for your input.

CK wrote:Bill, thank you for that.
Ive had a heap of experience in commercial environments using commercial machines from CMA, Faema, Rancilio, Cimbali.
this time i thought id try something different.
I think the romance of the retro workable art that is a lever machine was too hard to walk away from this time.

But i have had no real experience using them.. so im a bit worried about a few things including repeatability.

Thanks for your input.

So CK- tell me you are in Portland so I can patronize a lever -establishment!!?? I nave not found one here yet- but there are something like 1,400 espresso stands here as well. The search goes on unless you are opening .....here?

mogogear.. believe it or not im actually a coffee roaster in Australia.
But youre always welcome to visit.
We have had espresso here for 50 years and the lever types have been out of fashion for the last 20 years... You get the odd machine (usually not maintained) and belonging to a business thats been around since Adam was a boy...
So i havent really had an opportunity to learn too much about them and their extraction etc.
Most of my customers have automatics .
Ive actually ordered a lever as one of a few various machines from a manufacturer in Italy..
Im pretty excited about using it.. Its a 3 group 2 tier cup warmer stainless steel thingy. Should be interesting.
Im sure it wont disappoint but i do have to learn more about it.
How it works..
Etc.

Ill keep you posted once its here and set up.
Its downside (Well not sure if its a real downside ) is it uses 53 mm filters. Which limits range of filters .. the company provides wooden/brass tampers for it.

They come in 1 group 5 litre) 2 group 12 litre) 3 group 18 litre) 4 group 24 litre) as well as 4 group 2 x 12 litre boilers).

I like theatre and there is nothing like a hands on theatre from a functional piece of art like a lever for customers..
The problem is ill have to educate myself and my staff pretty quickly.

Hi CK, what type of machine did you end up buying, I am in Australia and also looking for a multiple group lever, so will be interested to hear what you ended up with. Where abouts is your cafe? I'm a sucker for a lever